Down by the River

by Robyn Carr

  “And?”

  “And Conrad who tried to drive under a flooded overpass and got washed away. If he’d stayed with the truck, he might’ve been okay, but he tried to get across on foot. Highway Patrol found his body washed up against a tree.”

  “What a waste.”

  “They’re not going to tow your truck until the water’s down. There are too many more important matters for everyone right now.”

  “Of course. Will you tell Erline?”

  “I’m going to take Sam with me to do that.”

  “Are those houses okay over there? They’re pretty close to the river.”

  “You have a bigger problem in the clinic than they do. But there’s no use pretending—this is as bad as anyone’s ever seen it. Worse than the last flood twenty years ago.”

  It was midnight before it became clear—they had to leave. There was nothing more they could do. Everyone was loading up and pulling out. Jim, John, Elmer, Annie, Mike and the kids and Jessie put everything in the clinic on the highest possible surface. There wasn’t time to get it out, but they did bag up things like files, test kits, office equipment, accounting ledgers and books. Copiers, fax machines, phones and the like all went up on the top shelf in exam rooms. Jim put the computer and printer in the back of the truck.

  Elmer was pulling on June’s elbow. “Come on, honey. We have to go. The water’s two feet deep in the street.”

  “But that’s a long way from getting in here! We’re up three feet at least!”

  “June, we won’t be able to drive out of here pretty soon. Let’s go.”

  “Oh, Dad,” she said, tears coming to her eyes. “Are we going to lose it all? The whole town?”

  “No, June, but it’s gonna get real wet around here. Now, let’s go!”

  As they all piled into two trucks—Elmer’s and Jim’s—they could see others taking their most valuable possessions out of their houses. They took a side trip at June’s request and went by Judge and Birdie’s. The scene was the same—Chris and Nancy were loading up the back of Judge’s little truck with possessions while the boys were already buckled into their seats in the family van.

  June rolled down the window. “Where are you going?” she called.

  “Our house,” Nancy answered. “We’re on high ground. You going home now?”

  “Yes. I’ll call you on the cell later.”

  “June,” Nancy yelled, tears in her voice. “I’m sorry. I hoped we could save it.”

  “Just hurry and go,” she said. “We saved the most important stuff.”

  At noon the next day the report was on CNN. The town of Grace Valley was literally underwater. National Guardsmen were rescuing residents from their homes and the Red Cross was putting people up in the local schools and churches. The Forrests, Toopeeks, Hudsons and Claypools were all in houses untouched by the flood, as were the Stones and Cravens. George’s café was underwater, but the family home was undamaged. Burt and Syl lost home and bakery, as did Sam with his home and station. Judge and Birdie, the Mulls, the Burnhams and Barstows were out of luck, and so was Erline.

  Of course Myrna took in the Barstows, and Ricky and Corsica made sure that Erline and the children were sheltered. The Mulls were put up by VA facilities and most of the others had grown children in neighboring towns who took them in.

  It rained and it rained and it rained.

  In the days that followed, while it was impossible to do any cleaning up in the town, one would think that everyone would sit idle and wait for the sun to come out. Not so. With the clinic closed, June, John and Elmer made house calls or saw patients in the clinic facilities at Valley Hospital. Emergency shelters needed volunteers to collect food, clothing and bedding, and to help within the makeshift shelters set up in schools.

  Of course, Grace Valley wasn’t alone in being vic-timized by the warm weather and relentless rains. Other small towns had taken beatings as their lakes and rivers overflowed. The Russian River, which flooded much more often, put in a vicious showing by knocking out a dozen houses and stranding a bus full of schoolchildren in a flash flood that obliterated a highway. Then there were the landslides all up and down the rocky northern California coast from the soaking the ground had taken.

  To see the way the town rallied was inspiring, but not at all surprising. Nancy and Chris settled the boys with Judge and Birdie and spent long days helping out in and around shelters, moving people, collecting donations, whatever was needed. Jurea and her teenagers, despite being homeless themselves, worked hard at helping others relocate. The Presbyterian Women, whatever their circumstances, were picking up donated groceries and putting together boxes for needy families. And, of course, Annie and her family weren’t content to sit around while the town was working and helping one another.

  They were all so tired, most especially June. Thankfully she worked with John, who guarded her health closely, making sure she was eating and resting whenever possible. But still the end of the days came thankfully and everyone who had a bed fell into it gratefully and slept deeply.

  A few days after the town was evacuated, Nancy found June at the hospital and asked if she had time for lunch in the cafeteria, or at least a coffee break. “If you can wait a little,” June said. But she cocked her head to one side to study Nancy’s face. Something was different. “Is everything all right?”

  “Sure. But I’m missing you. And I know we have things to talk about.”

  “Hah! The whole world has changed. Go get us a table and I’ll be along as soon as I finish up two exams that are waiting.”

  The whole world had changed, indeed. Nancy, wearing jeans, boots, a dirty rain slicker and plaid flannel shirt, went to the hospital cafeteria. There were two types of people there, people dressed pretty much like her and people wearing scrubs. She almost laughed out loud. Had she been mourning her suits? Her pumps? Had she complained to Chris that she wanted a challenging job, one that made her feel smart and necessary? She had never in her life felt more challenged and necessary than this past week.

  She took her tray through the line and got herself a hearty bowl of soup, a sandwich and a big slice of chocolate cake to top it off. She found a small table in the corner, where she could see everyone coming and going, and was halfway through her lunch when June finally arrived.

  “How have you been?” June asked her.

  “I’m great, but what about you? Are you working too hard?”

  “I don’t get a chance to. My mother, John, is on me every second.”

  “Has there been any talk of a wedding?”

  “Yes,” June said. “It went something like this—we could find a justice of the peace if either of us had a second to spare, but right now it seems not quite a priority.” She rubbed her stomach. “Even my dad understands.”

  “So much for New Year’s Eve,” Nancy said.

  “That’s okay. Right now there’s too much else going on. Have you been volunteering all week?”

  “Yup. Me and Chris, can you beat that?”

  “That’s what’s different,” June said. “You’ve decided not to kill him.”

  Nancy’s eyes sparkled and her face broke into a grin. “June, I don’t know when I’ve felt more alive. I’m just sorry to say it took a natural disaster to make me see the light.”

  June was speechless. Finally she asked, “What light?”

  “I’m never leaving this town. Well, I’m going back to San Diego to empty out the rest of the house, have a giant garage sale and put a For Sale sign up. And to resign from my old job. Then I’m coming back here to stay.”

  “What about all your money problems? Did you get that worked out?”

  “Not really. But one thing is glaringly clear. Chris is not a businessman, and he never will be. I, however, am a pretty good businesswoman. I’m thinking of taking over his insurance business. He said it a couple of times before I heard him. ‘Nancy, you should be selling insurance, you’d be great at it.’”

  “You would. But I bet the
re are a lot of things you’re good at. Like helping people.”

  “That was easy for me, I had nothing to lose. But what changed my life was watching George and the volunteer fire department hauling people out of town with their few meager possessions when his business was lost. Or watching Jurea Mull collecting donated clothing for children when she’s homeless herself. Or how about you, making sure you see the patients wherever there’s space, even though your clinic, which you built and loved, is underwater. I never knew what it took to be a real neighbor. A real community. It’s the most important thing that’s ever happened to me. In my life.”

  June felt her eyes well up with tears. She reached across the table and grasped her friend’s hand. “I’m so glad you’re going to stay here.”

  “So am I. And June, did you happen to notice Chris at all through this last week?”

  “I’ve seen him here and there. Why?”

  Nancy sat back in her chair. “He’s incredible. He’s unstoppable. He’s been all over the valley, helping anywhere he’s needed. Encouraging people. Promising them everything is going to be all right. June, it is so wonderful to be proud of my husband again. I’m not so sure anymore that Chris fell down on the job of being a good partner. It might be that I did.”

  “What has he said about this decision?”

  “We’ve barely had time to talk, there’s been so much to do. I did catch him as we were trading places in the shower this morning and I said, I can’t give up on this place now. I’ve put too much into it. I thought his smile was going to go on forever!”

  Right then, while they sat in the crowded cafeteria, a strong beam of sunlight came through the windows and lit the place. Those present began to cheer.

  New Year’s Eve was quiet for almost everyone from Grace Valley, and New Year’s Day was soggy. But it hadn’t rained in a couple of days, and the effect on the town was amazing. Many buildings and houses had waterlines at about three feet from the ground, but were still standing. It could have been so much worse. There was very little snow left in the foothills, and if spring was simply normal, the snows at the very peak of the mountain ranges would melt off slowly through the spring and summer.

  Annie, Mike and the kids said an emotional goodbye to June, Annie promising to come back in the spring to spend a little time with the baby.

  Cleanup began immediately, though June was unable to do much to help. She continued to spend most of her time at the hospital, seeing patients there with Susan’s help, while John, Elmer and Jim began work to put the clinic right. Every structure in Grace Valley was getting attention, and it looked as if there would be renovation work for Chris and others like him for months to come.

  The café was going to get a major face-lift, with new appliances, counters, furniture and booths. The church had survived very well, and once the floors were refinished, the pews could be moved back in. The Flower Shoppe, bakery and gas station were a genuine mess. Sam decided to put a For Sale sign on the station—if anyone wanted to buy it to rebuild, he’d give them a bargain. But the shop he was going to fix up and restock, because he thought it was still a good idea to have Jurea and Erline, if she came back to Grace Valley, working there. Burt and Syl wanted to rebuild the bakery; they had too many accounts dependent on them to just walk away. “Besides,” Burt said, “it’ll probably be another twenty years before that river floods again.”

  The temperature dropped, and while most people who had a great deal to do, much of it outside, would resent that, these people were grateful it—as long as it didn’t rain or snow for a while.

  In mid-January, still weeks before the businesses on Valley Drive would be ready to reopen, George Fuller went to Sam and Elmer and said a letter had come from Harry. It was addressed to George, but in the first paragraph George was invited to share its contents with whomever he wished.

  Sam read the letter, then Elmer. Then they called a meeting of the members of the Presbyterian Church to be held in the elementary school closest to the valley. When the roster was called, the congregation was told that a letter had finally come from Reverend Shipton. The number of people who came to the school was amazing and gratifying. George began to read.

  “‘Dear George,

  The two most central gathering places in Grace Valley are the church and the café, so it seemed appropriate to send this to you, and let you share it with whomever you choose. I have amends to make to you, and to lots of people.’”

  “That ain’t exactly so,” George put in editorially. “I don’t feel like Harry has any amends to make with me. We all got our problems, make mistakes, and I ain’t no exception. But—”

  “Just read the letter, George!” Judge commanded.

  “Yes, sir. All right.”

  “‘When it comes down to it, I lied to everyone. The fact is, I have an addiction and it is gambling. I have no control over this desire to gamble, and I have never limited myself to a card game or horse race. I played the stock market, bet on sports, threw dice and horseshoes, bet on roulette, blackjack and dogs. Truthfully, I could turn anything into a bet, and have at one time or another. I never won much, just enough to make me think the Big One was just around the corner.

  Well, I was right about that. The Big One was just around the corner. It turned out to be my rock bottom. I borrowed money from everyone—good people and bad people. I rarely repaid anyone and it finally caught up with me. Some of the bad people beat me within an inch of my life and it was by the grace of God that I am alive to tell about it. From the hospital I went into an addiction treatment center where I have spent more than two months and am not finished. It’s extra long for me because I am an extra-hard case. I will be recovering for many, many years to come. I still am bemused by the fact that I, a reverend, could put every mortal matter in the hands of God but this one—my insatiable desire to gamble. Now, helpless, I give it to God.

  Although I’ve been very removed from the events of the world, I have heard of floods in northern California and I pray every day that Grace Valley and our people are okay. I’m going to be in this treatment facility for another couple of weeks and then I’ll begin what is called after care. I can work during that time, but it’s not necessary that I do. You should know, the church has been very supportive. They want me to get well. If you would like to have another minister come to Grace Valley Presbyterian, as common sense tells me you should, you have only to contact the church office. They’ll take it from there.

  I still have many people in Grace Valley to thank, many to whom I must apologize. When I leave this facility, I’m going to travel through Grace Valley. I’ll stop for a bit, maybe speak to you and a few others. I don’t expect to be made welcome. I know I’ve been too deceitful for that, so don’t worry that you have to pretend any feelings. It’s only for my recovery that I do this. I must face my mistakes, atone for them, and move forward with a clean slate.

  Thank you, George, for being a messenger. Thank you for your kindness in this and so many things.’”

  George stopped and dropped the hand holding the letter to his side. “I wasn’t all that kind,” he said.

  “What’s Harry mean, you don’t have to pretend any feelings?” Birdie asked. “Does he think we’re all mad at him?”

  “Did you get the impression he’d rather not be preacher here?” Myrna asked.

  “Maybe he’s just embarrassed,” Leah pointed out. “He doesn’t want anyone to feel they have to accept him back.”

  “I don’t know,” Elmer said. “Sounds like he’s still a little shaky to me. Maybe Harry doesn’t know what he wants. He’s been through a lot.”

  “Now, wait,” June said. “Just because the tone of the letter is—” She stopped suddenly, her hands going to her stomach. “Oh, my,” she said, looking down. “Oh, dear.” There was a long pause while all eyes went her way. Water began to trickle down to the floor, making an impressive puddle. There was not going to be any sneaking out of this gracefully. “I forgot what I was going to say,
” she said.

  “What the devil is that?” Jim asked, leaning over.

  “Her water broke,” John said. “We’re having a baby.” He grinned as handsomely and excitedly as if it were his.

  “Yahoo!” Nancy said, jumping to her feet.

  June turned to John and asked, “Is it too early?”

  “Naw. You’ll be fine,” he assured her. “Shall we?”

  “I don’t guess there’s much choice,” she answered, getting to her feet slowly. “What a mess.”

  “It’s all worth it in the end,” Susan promised.

  It was a little like a parade. Jim held June’s left elbow, John held her right. Behind her were Susan and Elmer. Next came the Forrests, all four of them. Other friends and neighbors just automatically got up and followed, the meeting abruptly over.

  Myrna looped her hand through Morton’s and said, “She’s been hell on floors since this whole thing started.”

  Nineteen

  Valley Hospital was swollen with interested parties awaiting the birth of June’s child. It wasn’t just the people of Grace Valley, though they were there in force, but also hospital staff who couldn’t be kept away.

  June had to draw the line somewhere, so she decided to have only Jim and Nancy with her in the birthing room, the place where she would have both labor and delivery and her brief hospital stay. She promised her dad that Jim would fetch him immediately, the moment they’d finished counting the baby’s fingers and toes.

  And so the hours passed. And passed.

  “His heart is strong. I’d like him a little bigger, but he’s not too small. How are the contractions, June?” John asked.

  “You’re joking, right? How do you think they are? They’re a laugh a minute!”

  “Ah, pissy. That would indicate we’re getting close to transition. Let’s have a look.”

  “You just had a look! What the hell difference is looking going to make?”